ENFIELD -- Seven years after developer John Rancich first floated the idea of constructing a commercial energy enterprise near Connecticut Hill and a year after the Enfield Town Board passed a controversial wind law outlining guidelines that would allow him to do so, an application for a 20-turbine wind farm along Black Oak Road is finally ready for consideration.
The application, filed by Rancich last month on behalf of his Enfield Energy company, calls for the erection of up to 20 three-bladed, 425-foot turbines, as well as an electrical substation, collection system, pad-mounted transformers and compacted gravel service road, on a project area spread over 925 acres.
The hefty document contains detailed proposals by contractors The Delaney Group as well as easement schedules and supplemental environmental studies.
It has already been reviewed by town consultants, who have outlined initial concerns, most having to do with requests for additional information about things like aesthetic renderings and nearby property ownership.
Rancich said he hopes to be able to provide the supplemental material by early February.
The project has faced opposition from some residents, who spoke out at public hearings in 2008 asking for greater setback requirements, voicing safety fears and noise concerns.
Town Supervisor Roy Barriere said Wednesday that the town is also finalizing an agreement with Rancich regarding bonding and liability, which may be ready for review at next week's regular town board meeting.
An environmental review and public hearing will follow, and it could be another year before any turbines start spinning.
In the meantime, Rancich needs to secure an estimated $100 million for the ambitious project. He said he is in negotiations with a handful of interested investors.
"After all these years of having it just be talk, now it's actually a real thing that's going to happen," Rancich said.
The site was selected because it is among the windiest in the county and already has a high-voltage transmission line running across it.
The 2.5 megawatt turbines could collectively generate enough energy to power all the homes in Tompkins County. Rancich said he hopes to contract with some of the area's largest businesses, like Cornell University, or sell directly to local residents.
His application also mentions the possibility of opening an on-site renewable energy education center.
From the very beginning, Rancich said the idea has been to make it a truly local energy generation and distribution project.
"We hope to employ local contractors, train local people to operate the wind farm, and will return a portion of the profits from the Black Oak Wind Farm to the Town of Enfield, helping improve local services and reduce the tax burden on residents," the application states.
No comments:
Post a Comment